Another day, another LAN Economy Only flight within South America. This is the last of our LAN flights, and the last of our flights as part of our OneWorld Explorer Award until we resume the open-jaw we start at IGR in NOU (Noumea, Caledonia – about 8,000 miles away).

AEP did not have a lounge for LAN passengers to use, so we cleared security and went to the gate. The flight was delayed about an hour, and it was unclear to me the reason of the delay. I was thankful there was even a flight, given the current bickering between Politicians in Argentina and LAN Airways. Basically, the government of Argentina nationalized Aerolineas Argentina a few years ago. Literally, they stole it from the person who owned it, and said we are going to own it now for the public interest. So the government has an interest in the success of Aerolineas Argentina, which has a hub at AEP airport. They don’t like LAN’s presence there, competing with their stolen loot, so they have been cage rattling politically as of late to try to get them out of there. Rumor has it LAN may discontinue flights in AEP in the coming days.

Boarding was via remote bus, and we climbed the jetway stairs and boarded our seats in row 2. The flight was overall uneventful, with a couple trip report posts written, and another LAN snackbox consumed.

Departure board at AEP airport for our flight to Iguazu Falls.

Line forming for boarding the remote bus for the Iguazu Flight

These remote buses to be ferried out to the gate are getting old

Another snack basket down

There were two really cute Argentine sisters on the flight, in the row across from us. The cabin crew was very kind with them, and even presented them with a “my first flight” certificate at the end of the flight. It was very cute.

When we left Buenos Aires, the cold front we had been experiencing had just ended. About mid-way through the flight, we caught back up with it, and by the time we landed in Puerto Iguazu, Argentina, it was pouring rain and very cold, around 45F. We were thankful we had requested our posada to arrange a taxi pick-up, so we didn’t have to schlep it on the bus in freezing, heavy rain. It would go on to rain for the next 18 hours straight…